Pacific Islands Consumer Council

and was composed by Michael K. Peacock with the hope that Veterans and their Ohana (family) will embrace a more active role in the process of recovery as services shift from the acute care model to one that is community-based.

Introduction

In 2003 the "President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health" released their report with this vision statement

"We envision a future when everyone with a mental illness will recover, a future when mental illness can be prevented or cured, a future when mental illnesses are detected early, and a future when everyone with a mental illness at any stage of life has access to effective treatment and supports: essentials for living, working, learning, and participating fully in the community."

The Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) has embraced the principles of recovery transformation. Consumers of mental health services are to have real and meaningful choices plus full participation in decisions about their health care as part of their recovery process. The emphasis is on person-centered care and, whenever appropriate, family involvement.﻿

A Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC) is a group of Veteran mental health consumers and their family members. The purposes of a council are to provide input regarding local mental health structures and operations and to share information with Veterans, family members, and community representatives about local VA mental health programs and initiatives.

The changing VA mental health system seeks to be responsive to the needs of Veterans and their families. Meaningful input from Veteran consumers ensures that they have a voice in determining the care they receive on their recovery journey. Councils also promote the understanding and use of VA mental health services by all Veterans and their families.

Veterans Mental Health Consumer Councils provide a dynamic opportunity for VA staff and Veteran consumers of VA mental health services to learn from each other and promote greater understanding of and collaboration with each other to the benefit of both﻿

This may include Veterans from mental health inpatient, residential, and outpatient programs. Members may also include family members, members of local VSOs, community mental health agencies, organizations such as NAMI and DBSA, and local community employment and housing representatives.

This diversity of members strengthens a council. Councils are responsible for selecting their membership.

STAFF LIAISON

Each council will have a VAMC staff liaison to facilitate communication with mental health and medical center leadership. The liaison assists the council in understanding the VA system.

A council will also want to ensure that the number of staff present at meetings is not so large that council members feel inhibited in discussing issues and problems. It might be helpful to have one or two mental health staff members regularly attend council meetings and invite additional staff members to attend only as particular topics or issues arise.

Such participants may include medical center leadership, mental health leaders, the LRC, and other interested mental health staff. A council may wish to invite other medical center staff or community leaders as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS of a COUNCIL MEMBER

The qualifications are similar to those required for any council or committee.

These include: a strong commitment to the mission and goals of the council, an ability to focus on issues important to the organization as opposed to personal concerns, a commitment to full participation, a willingness to work with others and consider others' views, and an ability to solve problems in a creative manner.

It is important to have some members with specific skills such as familiarity with computer software, word processing, spreadsheets, policies and procedures, and bookkeeping.